On Pope's Day, Pope Francis urged Catholics to unite with others despite our differences because God did not make us all alike.
June 29 is considered as Pope's Day because it is the feast day of two great Catholic saints who are considered the pillars of the church: Saints Peter and Paul.
Catholics consider Saint Peter, one of the Twelve Apostles, as the first Pope. All popes who came after Saint Peter are considered his successors and his feast day is celebrated as Pope's Day.
In his homily on Monday, Pope Francis said Saints Peter and Paul had very different personalities and experiences but united with each other as brothers.
According to a report of Vatican News, Pope Francis said the Lord Jesus, who commanded us to love one another, unites us with others "without making us all alike."
The Pope also recalled the time when Saint Peter was in prison. The Church at that time united to pray for Saint Peter and miraculously, an angel came to free him from prison.
Pope Francis said if we spent more time praying and less time complaining, "“so many doors would be opened, so many chains that bind would be broken.”
"Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the church was fervently
being made to God on his behalf.
On the very night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter, secured by double chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while outside the door guards kept watch on the prison.
Suddenly the angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the cell.
He tapped Peter on the side and awakened him, saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains fell from his wrists. The angel said to him, “Put on your belt and your sandals.” He did so.
Then he said to him, 'Put on your cloak and follow me.' So he followed him out, not realizing that what was happening through the angel was real; he thought he was seeing a vision."
Acts 12: 5-9
To pray everyday with Pope Francis, download the "Click To Pray" app of the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network.
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